Manchester United can't let 'monster' player alter their summer transfer plans
Man Utd will focus on player sales in the summer transfer window to address a tight financial situation.
It is easy to get carried away after one good performance. Manchester United are in danger of getting carried away even after a bad one.
The latest Manchester derby was one of the most forgettable in the history of the fixture, played at such a sluggish pace that Casemiro looked back to his best. The 33-year-old has certainly improved in recent weeks, but his record-breaking display shouldn't distract United from their focus to sell him this summer.
Casemiro made 11 tackles against Man City, the joint-most by a United player on record (from 2006-07) in a Premier League game. It's a feat only matched by Owen Hargreaves against Liverpool in December 2007 and Patrice Evra versus Portsmouth in August 2008. No player across Europe’s top five leagues has won more tackles in a single game this season than Casemiro did on Sunday afternoon. It says more about how sloppy City were than how sharp the Brazilian was.
Manchester United can't let 'monster' player alter their summer transfer plans
Casemiro was hailed as a 'monster' by Manchester United teammate Luke Shaw after his impressive display, while Bruno Fernandes labelled him 'different class.' He played well, though it didn't take much to stand out from the rest of the class in what was a truly terrible match.
What can't be argued, though, is that Casemiro has regained his importance in a United. The veteran only started four of the first 20 matches under Ruben Amorim, but has since started eight of the previous 10 matches across all competitions. He is expected to keep his place when they travel to face Lyon in a crucial Europa League tie on Thursday night.
Amorim said he initially overlooked Casemiro because 'he was not the best option to the way we want to play', the fact he is now involved is not only a credit to the player for working hard, but a reflection that United still aren't playing the way the head coach envisaged either.
Instead of being a team capable of controlling a match and breaking down their opponents, United still rely heavily on the counter-attack, the same shortfall they had under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag. It means they can often record an impressive result against one of the best teams in the Premier League, but regularly find it difficult to beat those near the bottom of the table.
Casemiro was able to flourish as a bruiser at the base of the United midfield on Sunday afternoon, but his passing was poor as United struggled to make the most of their openings on the transition. It was a reminder of why Amorim wants to add another central midfielder to his side this summer, ideally a more progressive passer who can play alongside Manuel Ugarte.
Whether they can afford one could rely on finding a buyer for Casemiro. The Brazilian has already indicated he would like to remain at Old Trafford for another season, but with a weekly wage of roughly £350,000, he does not do enough to justify his huge hit on the wage bill.
Amorim was playing politics when he added Casemiro 'is our player and he will continue to be our player,' but his recent resurgence can't distract United from the fact that they would benefit greatly from his sale this summer. He might be a United player for now, but he shouldn't be one for much longer.